Is your insomnia aiding to your weight gain?

Posted September 18, 2012

When it comes to gaining weight, the major causes that probably come to mind are lack of exercise and poor eating habits. However, inadequate sleep may be contributing to it as well, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

People who routinely have trouble falling asleep can try an all-natural supplement called Dr. Pinkus’ Sublingual Sleep, which may help them get a full night’s rest and wake up feeling refreshed in the morning. The reason that quality sleep might help an individual lose weight is because it decreases appetite-regulating hormones.

Jean-Phillippe Chaput, M.D., and Angelo Tremblay, M.D., the authors of the study, wrote that losing weight is not as easy as eating less, working out more and sleeping longer.

“However, an accumulating body of evidence suggests that sleeping habits should not be overlooked when prescribing a weight-reduction program to a patient with obesity,” the authors wrote. “Sleep should be included as part of the lifestyle package that traditionally has focused on diet and physical activity.”

In addition, the amount of time a person sleeps and the quality of it can help researchers predict how much fat individuals participating in a weight loss program are expected to lose.